Snooker makes Olympic bid

Exactly, and it's not like you guys don't get snow and ice.

But you can be sure of one thing. Ya go a couple hundred miles north of you and they will be Curling in the Maritimes.

They always put in very strong teams.

At the moment, we have more indoor curling rinks in the city than pool halls, which is zero.
 
I think the reason snooker stands the best chance of making the Olympics is due to the number of countries that play it, the fact it has a solid structure in place with a governing body that's pushing for it to be included and it can be 'dumbed' down and it can be made quicker. Thing with pool is, there is no structure to it. There wouldn't be one governing body making a big push for the olympics, it would end up being down to certain individuals who would only be in it for their own gain. Pool also cant be shortened or made any more exciting than what it already is.

I think snooker if it does make it needs to be scotch doubles, 1 pro and 1 amateur. 30 second shot clock. 6 reds. Short races. No respot rule after a foul.
 
so the USA will not be participating in this event - and Earl will be on a Team EUR?

I'm sure the US will be able to find some decent players that will come in 5th or 6th. Think how much snooker the pros will play if they have a chance to make the Olympic team.

It clearly favors some countries more than others just like hockey was all USSR and Canada till the Olympics became a free for all with pro players let in, now it's just a best of the best.
 
Cue sports, not snooker alone

From what I can gather, it would seem that cue sports as whole are making the effort to bid for inclusion into the 2020 Tokyo games. That includes snooker, pool and 3C.

There seems to be room for at least one additional sport in those games, and the three mentioned above would be regarded as one billiard sport (that has three disciplines). In the olympics, for example swimming is regarded as one sport with multiple events in the same manner.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I interpret this announcement
 
You'd all be lucky to see one shot on TV if by chance snooker or any other billiard sport entered the Olympics.

But it would strengthen the power of the World Governing Bureaucracy!

Think of the mainstays of the Olympics, Track & Field and Swimming, which get the lions share of the coverage.... both dead sports, governed by people who had all entrepreneurial bones removed at birth.

This subject comes up every year or so, and it proves yet again, the naivety of people when it comes to sports marketing and development.
 
I think the article is written by the snooker group, so it makes sense that snooker is mentioned, however, the WCBS is the only organization that can submit a bid to the Olympics, and they represent all three disciplines equally ---- pool, snooker and carom.

I'm sure the official bid will be for all three disciplines.

WCBS = World Confederation of Billiard Sports
 
I think the article is written by the snooker group, so it makes sense that snooker is mentioned, however, the WCBS is the only organization that can submit a bid to the Olympics, and they represent all three disciplines equally ---- pool, snooker and carom.

I'm sure the official bid will be for all three disciplines.

WCBS = World Confederation of Billiard Sports
Indeed, and it is the raison d'etre of the WCBS.
 
May be a problem since Olympics does drug testing will they be able to get enough players to represent the different countries?

🎱
 
WPA Clarifies This Topic

AZBilliards received this letter today from Ian Anderson, President of the WPA:

"I’ve received a few emails about Snooker making a bid for inclusion into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that were read on your AZBilliards forum, and after checking I could see what was being said. Therefore I would like to clarify the situation.

Just recently the WCBS lodged an application to the Japan Olympic Committee for Billiards to be included onto the program for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. If successful it would include the three disciplines that make up the WCBS membership, Carom, Pool & Snooker. While some press reports stated that Snooker made the submission, this is incorrect. Only the WCBS has the authority to do so.

The WCBS submission is in line with the new policy of the IOC where two sports will be eliminated from the program after the 2016 Games in Rio. I believe they will be Golf and Rugby as they are the two new sports for 2016. Undoubtedly other sports who belong to the IOC but are not on the program (same situation as WCBS), have also submitted proposals for acceptance in 2020. This group will be reduced down to a pool of five, and will be joined by Golf and Rugby making a total of seven. From this pool of seven, two will be chosen to be included onto the program in 2020.

Although we lack a lot in terms of financial resources that some other sports enjoy, we are optimistic about our chances because we have been told (unofficially) that the host country does have some input into the final decision, and as we know many fine billiard players are Japanese. I know that in the past the host country did have some input, but not sure that still applies, but if so, then if the powers that be in Japan are looking at what sports they may have a better chance of winning medals at, then billiards getting the nod it is not beyond the realms of possibility."
 
This group will be reduced down to a pool of five, and will be joined by Golf and Rugby making a total of seven. From this pool of seven, two will be chosen to be included onto the program in 2020.

Although we lack a lot in terms of financial resources that some other sports enjoy, we are optimistic about our chances because we have been told (unofficially) that the host country does have some input into the final decision, and as we know many fine billiard players are Japanese. I know that in the past the host country did have some input, but not sure that still applies, but if so, then if the powers that be in Japan are looking at what sports they may have a better chance of winning medals at, then billiards getting the nod it is not beyond the realms of possibility."

From Foxsports:
"Japan wants baseball and softball brought into the sports list, while Pyeongchang is looking for ways to save money."

I'm quite pleased that Olympics is on its last legs, as is the WCBS.
 
Latest blog post on this exact topic with a couple of stats thrown in for good measure :)

https://superfluoussweatband.wordpress.com/

If you were to make it an Amateur competition, it would solve the issue this author is concerned about. The winners of the IBSF world championships are far more varied in nationality. The standard of top amateur snooker is strong enough that it would still be enjoyable to watch.
 
If you were to make it an Amateur competition, it would solve the issue this author is concerned about. The winners of the IBSF world championships are far more varied in nationality. The standard of top amateur snooker is strong enough that it would still be enjoyable to watch.

I really like this suggestion and agree 100% that the difference in standard would be negligible. Perhaps it could also have the positive knock-on effect of giving those amateur players from different nations the all important experience to aid them when they do turn professional, much like in Boxing.
 
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